Bruce Bielfelt MD
Radiologist | Diagnostic Radiology
4300 N Access Rd Suite D Chattanooga TN, 37415Rating
5/5
About
Dr. Bruce Bielfelt is a radiologist practicing in Chattanooga, TN. Dr. Bielfelt specializes in diagnosing and treating injuries and diseases using medical imaging techniques such as X-Rays, magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography exams. These techniques offer accurate visibility to the inside of the patients body and help to detect otherwise hidden illnesses so that they can be treated quickly and efficiently.
Provider Details
Bruce Bielfelt MD's Expert Contributions
Does CT definitley confirm parotid mass?
Wait for the biopsy result. That your answer. Lymph nodes can sometimes be easily recognized and sometimes not so easily recognized depending on whether there is infection or malignancy. READ MORE
Depuytren's contacture question
There is a national institutes of health study which pretty much states that about 3/4 of the people treated with appropriate radiation therapy do not progress to any worse stages if they are treated early. You need to really discuss this with your radiation therapist however. READ MORE
What's the earliest I can get a mammogram?
This is a rather complex question. Due to the fact however that you are only 25, it is probably unlikely that you are at this moment at risk for breast cancer. The caveat is that your mother and grandmother had breast cancer in their 40s and apparently early on. The breast cancers start small of course and usually take almost 7 years to develop into a cancer which can be seen on mammography. There are exceptions to this however. Younger women tend to have much denser breast tissue than older women. This can make a breast-cancer very difficult to detect in a younger woman using standard mammography. You may wish to go outside of the standard mammogram and pursue 3-D mammography as well. The most difficult breast to evaluate would be one in a lactating female or a woman who was pregnant. You may want to start having mammograms potentially at 30 unless you feel a lump developing in your breasts. You also may want to consider MRI examination of the breasts. This however is extremely sensitive at finding “things“, however, the sensitivity can sometimes lead to unnecessary biopsies. Finally, since both your grandmother and your mother had breast cancer at such a young age, I would strongly urge that you undergo genetic testing. This would give you better information as to your risk. If you have the BRCA1 or the BRCA2 gene, you are at higher risk. I feel this would be especially helpful in your instance. READ MORE
Is radiology equipment really safe?
This is an interesting question. In fact, it used to be that medical radiation for some reason or other was not considered radiation exposure at all for the patient. The physicians/radiologists however who work with this daily wear radiation badges. So to be quite honest, there is always some risk with radiation. Your physician is always weighing the benefit versus risk ratio with regard to exposing you to any type of particular study. This is something that you would probably need to discuss with your physician if you are unduly worried. The younger you are, the more you would have to have some concern regarding the amount of radiation you receive particularly when dealing with larger doses which might be involved with CT scan of the chest and abdomen. I am unsure as to what you mean regarding “pre-existing condition.” READ MORE
What is the difference between an X-ray and a CT Scan?
The chest X-ray is a standard procedure which can show much, but CT is much more specific. It might help to have the CT and again, it may not. This is something that you need to weigh and discuss further with your doctor. Unfortunately, sometimes younger individuals will inhale a foreign body such as a small peanut or some other type of food product or item which may or may not be radiopaque. In this instance, CT is definitely an advantage, especially if the radiologist is carefully examining the main airways. The difference however is also involving the radiation dose. There are pediatric radiation dose schedules which are now mandatory on the newer CAT scanners. READ MORE
Mammogram with breast implants
Yes, the breast is compressed. This is done by a certified mammography tech. I have never seen an implant ruptured by this process. READ MORE
What if I'm allergic to contrast?
Many years ago, contrast materials were called ionic contrast. Currently, the contrasts that are used are called non-ionic contrast. They seem to have less potential for causing reactions. To be safe however, it would probably be advisable to take some sort of prednisone prep prior to having a contrast that study, just to be safe. Your radiologist should know a particular prep type which they are comfortable with. READ MORE
If I have a shellfish allergy can I have iodine contrast?
Two different immune globulins are at work here. Your eating side has IgE immune globulin. Your blood side is IgG. Thus, shellfish allergy shouldn’t affect you receiving IV contrast. You might want to use oral barium contrast if ingested for a GI CT study. READ MORE
MRI vs CT contrast
I assume that you mean intravenous contrast. The contrast used intravenously in CTs is based on an iodine component. The contrast used in MRI scanners intravenously is gadolinium based. There tends to be less reactivity of patients to gadolinium, however recently there has been slightly greater concern regarding some of the side effects which gadolinium can cause, particularly in patients who have poor renal function. READ MORE
Is Radiation therapy safe for kids?
I’m so sorry to hear this. My wife and I have always worried while our children were growing up that something like this could happen. READ MORE
What can I do to reduce the side effects of my radiation therapy?
I am not an expert on radiation side effects, as I am not a radiation therapist. I would tell you however that you might ask your radiation therapist if medical cannabis might be helpful. READ MORE
Airport security and being pregnant
The airport scanner is a microwave scanner. It does not penetrate deeply. If you are concerned however, you can have a standard wanding or pat down. Going through an X-ray CT unit would not be a good idea, if you don’t have to, especially in the first trimester. READ MORE
What can I do to reduce the side effects of my radiation therapy?
Unfortunately, radiation therapy causes severe side effects as you mentioned. There are some who never feel that cannabis in the form of medication can help with appetite and perhaps some of the discomfort. It would be best to check with your radiation oncologist regarding this. I have very little knowledge of this. READ MORE
I accompanied my mother for her X-ray and I didn’t know I was pregnant then. What should I do?
I am assuming that while you were in the room with her, you were given a lead apron to wear. The amount of scatter radiation that you would receive is probably not that significant. If you were not wearing the lead apron, you might have slightly greater exposure. Regarding radiation protection, time which is the amount of time exposed, distance as measured from the source of radiation and shielding which would be your lead apron are the factors which cover the amount of radiation you might receive in any one instance. No one can guarantee the outcome of radiation exposure, but the odds are that it will not affect you or your unborn. READ MORE
What is the key difference between an X-ray and a CT Scan?
The CT scan will give better detail as to the lung parenchyma. There are new algorithms which decrease the radiation dose to children. The chest X-ray delivers less radiation overall even with these new algorithms, but the films are not as high detailed as the CT. Much depends on how sick your child is and what the current concern of the pediatrician might be clinically. READ MORE
Other than a chest X-ray what are the other tests recommended for diagnosing the cause of cough?
The meaning is simply what it says. Many times, children will get a condition called bronchopneumonia. This occurs in younger people more frequently. This involves the main bronchi and some of the surrounding alveoli near the hilar areas around the heart. Many times, it is caused by viral infection, but it can also develop into a bacterial infection. Clinical Monitoring is the key to a successful recovery along with plenty of rest and fluid and antibiotic, if prescribed by a pediatrician. If the pneumonia is not successfully cured, sputum samples might be indicated to find out the type of organism by doing culture and sensitivity studies. READ MORE
For diagnosing the cause of a stomach pain what are the tests normally recommended?
Initially, your child may be a candidate for an upper G.I. study. Endoscopy is also a possible adjunct to this. CT scan could also lend information to the clinician regarding the reason for stomach pain. It is important to know the location of the stomach pain as to whether it is in the upper abdomen or lower abdomen. Also, the left/right side can be important In determining the cause of pain clinically. Serum tests can also be useful in some instances. READ MORE
My father’s CT scan shows two seperate reports. How is that possible?
I’m not sure how to answer this. It may depend on whether the patient had contrast administered on the CT scan initially and then on the second CT scan, no contrast ministered and this could potentially be a mistake in reading. Without seeing the films, I really cannot judge this question adequately. If your father had a procedure between first and second scan performed by a urologist, he might have gotten the stone out. READ MORE
What do you mean by nuclear medicine?
Nuclear medicine is a term used to indicate that a study is being performed utilizing a radioisotope. This may be free radioisotopes, where I could be tagged to a carrier molecule or even a red blood cell, white cells can be tagged as well. This can give much information to a clinician when trying to evaluate the patient for many different conditions. READ MORE
How effective is radiation therapy in liver cancer?
Liver cancer is a very tough cancer. It can be treated sometimes with localized infused radiation doses and sometimes, infused chemotherapy into the area of the tumor. External beam radiation and liver cancers do not seem to mesh as well. Other options depending on the size of the tumor in the liver would include radiofrequency ablation and also cryoablation. READ MORE
Bruce Bielfelt MD's Practice location
Practice At 4300 N Access Rd Suite D
4300 N Access Rd Suite D -Chattanooga, TN 37415Get Direction
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